Closet attachment.



J. F. HOLMES.

CLOSET ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION mu) NOV. n, 1916.

1 256,320. Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

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CLOSET ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. n. 1916.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed November 11, 1816. Serial No. 130,808.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErI-r F. HoLMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closet Attachments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to improvements .in an attachment, particularly adapted for use in connection with the toilet apparatus of railroad cars, although capable of application in unlimited fields.

It is an object of the invention to provide a movable receptacle beneath the waterflushed bowl of a railroad car adapted in its normal position to receive and retain the refuse from the bowl. which is necessary when the train is passing through a thickly populated section, or standing at a depot if the toilet is to be used, thereby making it the toilet at different times as is the usual custom, the receptacle being capable of a bodily movement to permit the discharge of the contents thereof at the desired places by authorized train employees.

In carrying out the invention a receptacle is adapted to be placed beneath the toilet, the same being of a relatively large capacity and having a portion thereof of substantially circular formation and provided on one side -with a tangentially disposed lip extending from one end of the curved portion of the receptacle and spaced thereof to provide a relatively large receiving and discharging opening, eliminating tra doors and the like that require packing to e interposed between the receptacle and the door which very soon becomes worn or decomposed and permits a leakage of the receptacle contents. The movable receptacle normally occupies a position whereby the opening therein is in communication with the toilet to receive the refuse therefrom, but when it is desired to dump the receptacle the same is bodily swung upon its supports until the tangentially disposed lip or chute like part is directed downwardlv to permit the discharge of the contents. The receptacle is of any desired length and diameter in keeping with the conditions encountered.

A further and important ob ect of the from the other end invention is to provide a device of this character in which the refuse from the toilet may be received and retained for indefinite periods within the receptacle. but all obnoxious odors arising therefrom are prevented from entering the interior of the railroad car by a suitable seal interposed between the bowl and the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of this character which may be operated by fluid pressure from the train pipe when desirable. so as to automatically move the receptacle to its discharging position upon the shifting of the controlling valve.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will, of course, be understood that many changes in the construction, location and proportions of the parts may be readily made, without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a sectional view taken through the toilet apparatus and the receptacle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view looking into the receptacle the same broken away intermediate its ends;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the fluid pressurp means used for moving the receptacle; ant

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail View of a portion of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts. the numeral 1 designates the usual closet casing having the seat and cover portion 1, the casing being supported upon the floor 2 of a ra lroad car or any other movable vehicle. The casing is provided with a relatively small discharge opening 2 passing through an opening in the floor of the car. The casing receives the usual bowl 3 supported therein in any well known manner, but preferably resting upon the upper edge of the casing. Leading to the bowl from a suitable source of supply is the water inlet pipe 4 controlled by a valve of any conventional type, not shown, adapted to be actuated upon the shifting of the lever 5 to permit the flushing of the bowl. A curved dumping pan 6 is pivotally supported upon the casing 1 hone-1th the end of the bowl, the pan being counterbalanced and retained in the position disclosed in Fig.

5 1 by'the weight 7 and having a link connection with the operating hand'c 5 so that the pan and the valve are actuated simultaneously upon the shifting of-the lever. The pan when shifted upon the operation of the lever swings on its pivot to allow the complete flushing of the bowl and after the closing of the valve the pan due to the counterbalancing weight 7 moves baek to its normal position receiving a slight supply or water sutl'icient to fill the same and constituting a liquid seal between the interior and exterior of the bowl for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Disposed beneath the floor 2 and in corn- 2o munication with the outlet portion of the bowl is a movable trough-like receptacle 9,

a portion of which is of circular formation and having at one side a tangentially disposed lip 9', to provide a chute-like entrance and discharge for the same. The inclined lip extends from one end of the curved portion of the receptacle and is spaced from the other end thereof to provide a relatively large receiving and dischargeopening 10'. The receptacle is composed of any desired material preferably metal, consisting of three parts, the bodyportion thereof being curved as indicated above and provided at each end with outstanding-flanges to which are attached the sides of the receptacle by suitable fastening devices. The fastening devices have no parts protruding within the interior of the receptacle, so that the same is smooth and allows the contents to be readily discharged upon the proper shifting of the same.

As a convenient means for supporting the receptacle for an oscillating or rotary movement, brackets are provided, one bracket being disposed upon each side of the receptacle and suitably secured to the car. Each bracket at its'upper end is formed with aflattened portion having apertures therein to receive fastening bolts 11 by which the same is attached to the floor of the car and having a downwardly extending relatively wide part 12 from which projects a web portion 13 at right angles to the downwardly extending part thereof. The downwardly extending portion of each bracket carries at its lower end a widened bearing portion 14' projecting forwardly to a point in line with the outer edge of the web 15 and lying substantially flush therewith. The receptacle at eachside is provided with a. relatively shortstub 15 rigidly attached thereto and seated in the bearings 14 ofthe brackets 12 and constituting a support for the receptacle upon which the same swings. It will be seen that when it is desired to its receiving position and that no packings are employed so that leakage of the contents of the receptacle is out of the question.

To retain the receptacle in a position whereby the opening therein underlies the toilet discharge a plurality of separated coil springs 16 are employed, theend of the upper s ring being secured to the web portion '75 12 o thebraclmt on one side of the receptacle by means of a bolt 16 having a suitable eyelet therein. The adjacent ends of the springs are fastened to the loosely mounted levers 18 journaled on the stub arm at one side of the receptacle and having relatively large eyelets therein to receive the end portions of the coiled springs. It is preferable to use a plurality of separated relatively small springs in lieu of a single spring in '85 view of the fact that the tension placed thereon is equally distributed to the different springs, While if a single spring were used the same would be placed under tension more at one point than the other. The lower spring at its end is secured to an eyelet in the adjustable block 20 passing between the spaced angle members 21 constituting a bracket and secured to one side of the receptacle. The block 20 underlies a second block 21' having an upstanding portion provided with a suitable eye and is rigidly secured to the spaced angle members 21 to provide with the same a receiving and guiding means for the block 20. The block 21 is provided with a suitable eye to which is attached a flexible operating chain 22 extending therefrom and assing around a pulley 23 disposed in substantially the same vertical plane as the axes of the receptacle and thence extending upwardly and around a suitable drum 24 mounted upon the shaft 25 supported in the bearings 26 and adapted to be shifted by an authorized person with a suitable tool fitting the squared end portion of the shaft. The manual operation of the receptacle is particularly desirable when the same is attached to certain classes of cars, but it has also been found that it is often preferable to move the receptacle from its normal position to its discharging position by fluid pressure means, and to this end a suitable cylinder 27 is employed, the same being located upon the car at any de sired point and having an inlet pipe 28 in communication therewith and leading from a suitable source of supply. The inlet pipe is controlled by the two-way valve 29, which when in the position disclosed in Fig. 4

establishes communication between the inlet pipe 28 and the cylinder so as to cause the reciprocation of the piston 30 therein to correspondingly shift the receptacle from its normal to its dischargingposition. After the receptacle has been shifted and it is desired to exhaust the operating fluid from the cylinder, the valve is shifted so that communication between the outlet port 32 and the cylinder is provided, after which the tension springs 16 return the receptacle to its normal position. While it is preferable to use air from the train pipe to operate the piston, it will, of course, be understood that any other fluid for accomplishing the desired end may be used, such for instance, as steam, water or the like.

Secured to each side of the receptacle are angular members 33 provided with flanges 33 receiving fastening bolts to attach the said members to the side of the receptacle and the members forming with the sides pockets receiving the blocks. 34, which may be of wood, rubber, or any suitable material. The blocks are held in'position by fastening members 35 and project upwardly beyond the edges of the receptacle so as to normally engage the floor line of the car and prevent injuring or bending of the receptacle when the same is being returned to its normal position after a discharging operation by the relatively heavy tension springs 16. It will be apparent that the springs are under considerable tension and if some means were not employed for relieving the shock caused by the contacting of the edges of the receptacle with the floor line, the life of the receptacle would be very short. Depending from the floor and extending transversely of the receptacle near one end is a guard 36 extending a slight distance within the receptacle and preventing the contents thereof from being splashed out of the same during the movement of the car.

Having thus described the various parts of the device, the operation may be briefly stated as follows:

Assuming that the train is resting in a depot or the like the movable receptacle at this time will be in the position disclosed in Fig. 1 and will receive the refuse from the toilet from time to time. When the proper time arrives to discharge the contents of the receptacle the shaft 25 is actuated by a trainman or other employee, or if the fluid pressure system be used instead of the manual means. the piston 30 is reciprocated shifting the receptacle to the dotted line position in Fig. 2 and allowing the contents thereof to be discharged by gravity. i being observed that the discharging portion of the receptacle is inclined to facilitate the rapid discharge of the contents. After this operation pressure is relieved in the cylinder. or the actuating device for the manual shifting means released, the tension springs 16 then rapidly returning the receptacle to the position disclosed in Fig. 1 where the opening therein directly underlies the discharge portion of the toilet. It will also be seen that even though the receptacle be substantially filled with refuse, the obnoxious odors will not enter the car in view of the liquid seal formed by the water retained in the pan 6.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A device adapted to be positioned beneath a closet bowl comprising a receptacle having an opening therein adapted to be placed in communication with said bowl to receive the refuse therefrom, brackets arranged on each side of the receptacle and receiving stub axles carried thereby and constituting a support for the same, a plurality of independently movable arms on one of the stub axles, resilient devices connected with a stationary part and said arms and the receptacle for normally maintaining the same in an operative position, and means for moving the receptacle to discharge the contents thereof.

2. A device adapted to be positioned beneath a closet bowl comprising a receptacle having an opening therein adapted to be placed in communication with saidbowl to receive the refuse from said bowl, said receptacle being composed of metal the body part thereof having outturned flanges to which the sides are secured, stub axles carried by said sides, levers loosely mounted on one of said stub axles, brackets having hearing portions therein receiving said stub axles to support the receptacle, buffers mounted upon the upper portion of the receptacle and projecting beyond the edges thereof, a plurality of separated springs connected with one of said brackets and an adjustable block attached to the receptacle, the adjacent ends of said springs being fastened to the levers loosely mounted upon one of the stub axles, the said springs normally maintaining the receptacle in a position to receive the refuse from the bowl, and means connected with said receptacle and adapted to be operated at a point remotely of the same for shifting the receptacle to discharge the contents through the opening therein.

3. A device adapted to be positioned beneath a closet bowl comprising a receptacle having an opening therein in communication with the bowl, means for supporting the receptacle, and means for maintaining the receptacle in communication with the bowl, comprising a plurality of separated resilient members, and independently movable levers interposed between the adjacent ends of said resilient members, substantially as described.

4. A device adapted to be positioned beneath a closet bowl comprising a receptacle having an opening therein in communication with the bowl, means for supporting the receptacle, and means for maintaining the receptacle in its normal position comprising a plurality of separated reilient devices, and independently movable parts arranged between said resilient devices, and to which they are attached, for the purpose described.

5. In a combination with a closet bowl adapted to be positioned upon the floor of a car having an opening therethrough in communication with the outlet of the bowl, of a container supported from the under surface of the car bottom, said container comprising a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical member adaptedto rotate about an axis arranged to one side of the opening in the car bottom, said container having a lateral extension at one side adjacent the to thereof forming a lip underlyingvthe sa1d opening, and said container having an opening in the top thereof, at a, point overlying said laterally projecting li In testimony whereof I hereunto a x my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH FLETCHER HOLMES.

Witnesses DAVID L. STANTON,

WM. 0. HOLMES. 

